Taking Stock Of Gang Activity In Multnomah County

A new report on gangs in Multnomah County shows activity is moving east, but it has also declined as compared to activity 10 years ago. Click for larger image.

On Tuesday night, a 5-year-old boy was injured in a gang-related shooting in SE Portland. This is the latest incident in a rash of gang violence in Portland. A new report puts shootings like this in a larger context, examining gang activity and prevention efforts across Multnomah County.

The county’s Local Public Safety Coordinating Council put together the comprehensive report with data about crime, school expulsion rates, and demographic shifts. It also includes anecdotes from people associated with gangs and gang prevention efforts.

Some of the report’s key findings include:

Many former gang members draw a direct connection between gang affiliation and being expelled from school

Former gang members can be effective mentors to help get kids out of gangs

Gang violence has moved away from North and Northeast Portland to neighborhoods in East Portland and Gresham

This assessment is the first of three phases in the county’s gang-reduction process. The next phases will be designing and implementing solutions.